TEZPUR, Oct 24 - Durga puja festivities came to an end on Friday with the immersion of the idols of Goddess Durga here at Jahaajghat, a place fixed for immersion of images on the bank of the river Brahmaputra by the administration.
During the last four days, a festive atmosphere was noticed in and around Tezpur town. However, marking Vijaya Dashami, different programmes were organised by different organisations including Bharat Mata Pujan Samittee, Marwari Dharamsala etc. The immersion of the images of Goddess Durga and other idols began from 8 am onwards. Past records reveal that Durga puja was first celebrated here 154 years ago
From 1860-63, three family pujas were held at Tezpur. One of the pujas was started by Mahesh Mukharjee, a prominent government employee of the period at the Tezpur Court and this puja has since been performed by one of the members of the noted family, Subrata Mukharjee in heart of the town for years. The priest performing the puja is also from the same family. On Friday, on the immersion day, Subrata Mukharjee told this reporter that as their family puja has been playing a vital role in fostering unity among the people, they have been performing it with utmost devotion. �We feel that at a time when an atmosphere of intolerance among the Hindus and Muslims, has been prevalent in some parts of the country and even in our region, this puja performed by our family as per the tradition established by my forefathers has been playing a unique role in cementing Hindu-Muslim ties, as very interestingly since the inception of our puja, Muslim artisans have made the Durga idols.� He added emotionally that those Muslim artisans stayed in their home till the moment of installation of the idol at the altar, signifying that there was �no difference between Hindu and Muslims.�
On the other hand, the Rudrapal Samittee community Durga Puja, has been performed jointly by the Bengali and Assamese people since 1895 at the Bengali Theatre Hall, the Ban Theatre Durga Puja started in 1909, the Kamrupia Sanatan Dharma Mandali Puja is being celebrated since 1928. Among the other pujas, the prominent ones are the old Ban theatre Durga Puja at Kolibari, Marwari Panchayat Dharamashala Durga Puja, Ram Krishna Sevasram Durga Puja, Mahabhairab Haribilash Durga Puja, Rubber Bagan Chandimandap Durga Puja, Madhya Para Dakhin Kali Mandir Durga Puja, Bhairab Nagar Tila Durga Puja, Nepali Patti-Madhya Tezpur Yubak Sangha Durga Puja, Lambodar Bora Road community Durga Puja, Barahalia Ajanta Club Durga Puja, Amolapatti Durga Puja by Friends Club, Tinmail Uriamguri Durga Puja, Jahaghat Hindustani Durga Puja, Kocharigaon Durga Puja, Kamarchuburi Durga Puja,, Chanmari Durga Puja, Dadhora Bamunchuburi Durga Puja, Kumargaon Durga Puja, Murhateteli Durga Puja, Cotton Road Durga Puja, Luitpar Durga Puja, Mission Chariali Durga Puja, Balipukhuri Tiniali Durga Puja, Dipota Kendriya Natya Mandir�s 102-year-old Durga Puja and the Milonpur Durga Puja.
